TikTok trends may claim skincare routines are empowering self-care, but the message they send is that women – even young girls – should be judged on their looks
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What the ‘Epstein Files’ tell us about conspiracy theories – and about skeptics

The Epstein files have the internet scouring for dirt on prominent figures. We should take care what we accept at face value – and whom we defend.

The “Greatest Ghost Sighting ever”: the Grey Lady of the Theatre Royal, Bath

Considered by some the greatest ghost sighting ever recorded, the Grey Lady of the Theatre Royal, Bath is alleged to have been witnessed by 850 people at once

The digital doppelgänger: how algorithms decide who we become

Invisible social media curation by algorithms can reach beyond tailoring content and even start to shape users' beliefs and identity

From the archives: Physics in the New Age – chaos, order, and the paranormal

From the archives in 1992, Tim Axon discusses the trend of New Age believers misappropriating aspects of modern physics

How arbitrary decisions become dogma in healthcare

Established medical protocols are rarely critically re-evaluated, which can lead to ideas that persist because of inertia rather than evidence.

Generative AI is only a threat to writers if they’re not paid for the use of their work

The legality of generative AI's reliance on published works isn't settled yet, but writers' work is valuable and they should be compensated.

Intellectual humility doesn’t require us to be open to absolutely anything being true

It is right to have epistemic humility, and awareness of the limits of our knowledge - but that doesn't mean we need to be open to absolutely every possibility.

From the archives: Ball Lightning – When to believe, and when to disbelieve?

From the archives in 1992, Frank Chambers looks at rejection of the ball lightning phenomenon, and what it says about reactionary disbelief

Taylor Swift isn’t “MAGA-coded”, she is a lightning rod for conspiracist grievances

Conspiracy theorising around Taylor Swift being "MAGA-coded" is designed appeal to those who have already decided they dislike the pop megastar.

No, a study didn’t show oat milk and veganism will make you depressed

The media warned that vegan diets and oat milk cause depression – based on a study that says nothing of the sort.

Catching Killers, Not Curses: how to investigate Africa’s ‘Money Ritual’ crimes

Many ritualistic murders in Africa are under-investigated, with evidence written off as superstition, rather than clues as to the perpetrators.
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